Indonesia, Island of Alor and surrounding Islands, Moko

Such brass drums were the main currency on the Indonesian Island of Alor until 1914. In the remote areas they are still used today for paying bride price and as dowries, which is not the same thing. When the Dutch colonial government wanted to enforce the use of its coinage in 1914, it banned the moko currency except for the payment of taxes. The 1,660 mokos received in the payment of taxes that year were then scrapped. The valuation of mokos by the indigenous population depended first and foremost on their history and age. Only then followed the estimation of size, form and décor. Old, historical pieces were worth up to 3,000 Dutch guilders in 1914. Younger mokos, on the other hand, were traded between 1 and 50 guilders.